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Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been out since late September, when he played 36 minutes against Celta Vigo, and there is no word on when he will return.
While his absence was more or less covered at first, the Blaugrana’s performances, particularly in recent weeks, have been difficult to take, yet there is a rising feeling of optimism that once the Dutchman returns, the quality of performance will improve, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Barcelona has suffered as a result of de Jong’s absence.
The judgment is clear when comparing Barça’s performance with and without the Dutch midfielder. Their troubles in his absence are obvious, with two losses and two draws.
On the contrary, despite his absence, they’ve gone unblemished this season, with no defeats and just a draw against Getafe.
As a consequence, Xavi and his coaching team are starting to believe that his recovery will be accompanied by a return to form.
Statistics speak for themselves.
When De Jong has graced the field this season, his impact on the team’s goals becomes crystal clear.
In a span of seven games, the squad netted a remarkable 21 goals, and De Jong himself left his mark against Villarreal. Even defensively, they stood resilient, allowing only six goals in those contests.
On the other hand, Barcelona have played nine games without his absence and their offensive prowess took a dip, with a mere 11 goals – almost half the tally achieved with de Jong.
Defensively, they faced a tougher challenge, conceding eight goals, marking a noticeable decline compared to when de Jong marshals the midfield.
While these statistics are glaring, there is still no news about his return, although it is expected to take place some time after the international break.
